Group Streaming System and Method

ABSTRACT

Smart routing synchronization systems socialize a synthetic rebroadcast or group stream for enabling members of a user group to (re)broadcast select content to other members of the user group and collaboratively curate content delivery. The systems are based on a content-identification process and further a process for (re)broadcasting content. These processes are cooperable among a group of member clients each of which are in communication with at least two content sources. The synchronization process identifies select content and directs delivery of the content from an optimal resource for each member client via a smart routing protocol. The (re)broadcast process prompts delivery of the select content to members of the user group from a content origination member of the group, and group members are thereby able to simultaneously access the content for the purpose of providing a content-based platform for social interaction.

PRIOR HISTORY

This patent application is a divisional patent application of pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/305,977 filed in the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on 21 Oct. 2016, which US patentapplication is a 371 national stage entry of International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2015/027311, which International PatentApplication claims the benefit of or priority to (1) U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/983,160 filed in the United States Patent andTrademark Office (USPTO) on 23 Apr. 2014; (2) International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2014/069067 filed in the USPTO as internationalreceiving office on 8 Dec. 2014, and (3) International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2015/019099 filed in the USPTO as internationalreceiving office on 6 Mar. 2015, which latter application claimedpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/949,493 filed inthe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on 7 Mar. 2014,which provisional patent application is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/199,474 ('474 application), filed in the USPTOon 30 Aug. 2011, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,688,631; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/134,044 ('044 application), filed in the USPTOon 26 May 2011, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,478,719; and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/065,254 ('254 application), filed in the USPTOon 17 Mar. 2011, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,589,171, the specificationsof which applications are hereby incorporated by reference thereto sofar as allowable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to expanding the socialnetworking aspects within a smart routing system. The present inventionis directed to further socializing such a synthetic re-broadcast andgroup streaming where the participants have multiple content or dataorigins

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention essentially concerns certain systemic means forrebroadcasting and group streaming. Rebroadcasting is basically a socialfeature that sees the current playback choices belonging to a member ofa user group irrespective of content source and rebroadcasts thoseplayback selections to other members of the user group which members maybe within a select social circle, whether public or a private subset, ora geographically defined subset such that the select social circle canparticipate as members of the user group by attending to the content asinitiated by the content initiator within the user group for the purposeof providing a content-based platform for social interaction.

The content sources may be user-generated direct playback selections, ormay be sourced from indirect streams that are either algorithmicallygenerated or curated by another person or group. For example, an audiosource is originated from a 3rd party service and the audio signal forthe rebroadcast does not have to originate from the user's own device ormobile application. The rebroadcast then provides a dialogue platformwhereby the members of the group can in real-time, provide commentary byway of numerous means such as audio overlays, video overlays, or textcommentary, which dialogue is intended to be based at least on thebroadcast to which the members of the group are attending, therebyproviding the members of the user group with both the content stream andmeans for social interaction based therefrom. The social rebroadcastingsystem according to the present invention thus contemplates a number ofpotential variants as discussed in more detail hereunder under theDetailed Description section of this paper.

The group streaming aspects of the present invention provide certainadditional social functionality in terms of a collaboratively curatedcontent stream optimized for a group of people listening and interactingwith the same media content. Each member of the user group naturally hascertain individual preferences in terms of preferred content. Theindividual preferences submitted by members of the user group, forexample, can input preferences going to preferred artists or actors,genres, albums, movies, moods, decades, etc. . . .

The group streaming feature according to the present invention isprimarily focused upon the optimization of a collaboratively curatedcontent or media stream for members of a user group, using multipleinitial and ongoing inputs such as liking, down-voting, up-voting, etc.The prior art does contemplate certain market-located solutions thatoffer individual curating and stream optimization based on anindividual's input. The prior art, however, perceives a need for asystem that curates and optimizes a group-based content stream based onmultiple inputs, and for multiple users.

The foregoing social functions, namely a social rebroadcasting systemfor enabling individual members of a user group to rebroadcast selectcontent to other members of the user group irrespective of source and agroup streaming system for enabling members of a user group tocollaboratively curate content delivery are both subject to certainsmart routing parameters that function to provide real-timesynchronization of media content between at least two parties or membersof the user group, which media content may be sourced from at least twoseparate copyright access points or environments.

Whereas previous disclosures by Applicant have focused on thesynchronization of media files in Direct request cloud sources, thepresent invention is directed to real-time synchronization of streamingmedia content from at least one Indirect source to a Direct source. Thepresent invention thus attempts to further socialize the smart routingand synchronization environment governed by certain compliance orreporting means. The ability to source an Indirect content stream withan alternative Direct source (i.e. a personal and privately owned legalsource NOT delivered from a peer-to-peer or computer populated network)with a governing compliance application is believed foundational to thepresent invention.

In other words, a content stream provider such as a digital radioprovider or another person that shares or streams content is requestedby a consumer to consume content from that content stream provider. Thecontent stream provider and the consumer each have different legallyowned access points to content that is to be streamed or shared. Theconsumer may have a legal right to a direction request for this contentfrom the consumer's own source, while the provider may stream contentfrom a different source.

A direct access to the content from the consumer's own library is thusbelieved more efficient and cost conscious than obtaining access to thecontent from the provider. If the content is thus sourced from aconsumer's own library, this content delivery will or should have animpact on the reporting by the content provider. The complianceappliance according to the present invention accurately tracks andreports the resulting revenue generation for copyright holders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of our invention will become more evident from aconsideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is a first block type diagram of a first, file-matching versionof the social rebroadcasting system according to the present inventiondepicting a member device in communication with other member devices ofa user group via a server according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second block type diagram of a second, In-App version of thesocial rebroadcasting system according to the present inventiondepicting a member device in communication with other member devices ofa user group via a server according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a third block type diagram of a third, HTTP redirect versionof the social rebroadcasting system according to the present inventiondepicting a member device in communication with other member devices ofa user group via a third party service provider and a server accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fourth block type diagram of a third party service provideracting as an intermediary between two users of the system/applicationsaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fifth block type diagram of a group streaming systemaccording to the present invention depicting members of the user groupinterconnected via the group streaming system or application accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart type diagram of a group streaming methodologyaccording to the present invention showing detail-enhanced virtual filesystem structure as compared to the system shown in FIG. 4 depicting amedia player and two remote data sources in communication with a virtualfile application according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a depiction of a vehicular steering wheel constructionoutfitted with a Vertigo brand and several buttons marked with SHARE,INVITE, and COMMENT/LIKE for enabling a user to depress a select buttonfrom the group of buttons according to the concepts of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a depiction of a vehicular steering wheel constructionoutfitted with a Vertigo branded button for enabling a user to depresssaid button according to the concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a depiction of a vehicular steering wheel constructionoutfitted with a Vertigo brand and several buttons marked with SHARE,INVITE, and COMMENT/LIKE for enabling a user to depress a select buttonfrom the group of buttons according to the concepts of the presentinvention and a diagrammatic hand shown depressing the select button.

FIG. 10 is a depiction of a vehicular steering wheel constructionoutfitted with a Vertigo branded button for enabling a user to depresssaid button according to the concepts of the present invention and adiagrammatic hand shown depressing the said button.

FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction of a member device in communicationwith a central server according to the present invention, which centralserver is in communication with a number of content sources, including(1) a third party cloud based digital (indirect) source; (2) a localstorage (direct) source; (3) a secondary cloud based locker (indirect)source; and (4) a by request third party cloud based (indirect) source.

FIG. 12 is a seventh block type diagram of consumer intermediate a firstcontent provider and a content delivery network.

FIG. 13 is a schematic depiction of a series of member devices in a usergroup all linked via the central server according to the presentinvention, which central server is in communication with a number ofcontent sources, including, a third party cloud based digital source; asecondary cloud based locker source; a by-request third party cloudbased (indirect) source; and a local storage source.

FIG. 14 is a sixth block type diagram showing a basic arrangement of aremote synchronization service in communication with a transactionservice and with separate mobile devices in communication therewith.

FIG. 15 is a seventh block type diagram showing the basic arrangement ofa remote synchronization service in communication with a transactionservice and with separate mobile devices in communication therewithotherwise shown in FIG. 14 whereby the remote synchronization service isin further communication with other sources as exemplified by retailers.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic depiction of overlapping activation anddeactivation zones for consideration in connection with digitalgeographic distribution zone according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND METHODOLOGY

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the presentinvention essentially concerns certain computer-implemented, systemicmeans for rebroadcasting and group streaming as for example throughenablement by a mobile application or similar other software operablevia smart phones, tablet computers, mobile devices and/or so-calledsmart devices such as smart televisions. As noted hereinabove,rebroadcasting may be thought of as a social feature or function thatdetects a member's or user's playback choices, which member is part of auser or member group as at (100) of at least two members (10). A genericmobile device is depicted at (101) in FIGS. 11 and 13, for example, andthe member group (100) comprises a series of mobile devices (101)representative of individual members in the member group (100).

A content initiator or origination member of the member or user group(100) may thus initiate a rebroadcast via functionality provided by thedevice-enabled application or system according to the present inventionto the other members of the user or member group (100) irrespective ofcontent source. In other words, a member rebroadcasts playbackselections to other members as at devices (101) of the user or membergroup (100), which other members may be within a select social circle,whether public or private.

It is contemplated for example, that the subset might be a group offriends, co-enthusiasts of a certain genre of music or cinema, orgeographically defined subset such that the select social circle canparticipate as members of the user group (100) by attending to thestreamed or delivered content as initiated by the content initiatorwithin the user group for the purpose of providing a content-based orcontent-launched platform for social interaction.

The content sources may be user-generated direct playback selections, ormay be sourced from indirect streams that are either algorithmicallygenerated or curated by another person or group. For example, an audiosource could be originated from a 3^(rd) party service and the audiosignal for the rebroadcast on other member devices (101) does not haveto originate from the initiator's own device (101) or mobileapplication.

The rebroadcast then provides a basis for inter-member dialogue or adialogue platform whereby the members of the user group (100) can, inreal-time, provide commentary by way of numerous means for doing so suchas audio overlays, video overlays, or text-based commentary, whichdialogue is intended to be based at least on the broadcast to which themembers of the group 100 are attending, thereby providing the members ofthe user group (100) with both the content stream and means for socialinteraction(s) based therefrom. The social rebroadcasting system orapplication according to the present invention thus contemplates anumber of potential variants to achieve these ends.

A file matching rebroadcasting system is generally depicted in FIG. 1.In this variant the member or user is listening to music or attending toother media content on a member device (1) via a third party application(2). The application (2) plays as at (30) the media content through thesystem Application Program Interface or API (3) as is common in mobileoperating systems or applications. The VERTIGO branded application (4)according to the present invention may preferably request as at (31)audio waveform data of the actively playing audio from the API (3).

If the user or member enables a “broadcast my stream” function of theVERTIGO branded application (4), the application (4) delivers (6) theaudio waveform data to the VERTIGO branded server (5). The VERTIGObranded server use file matching techniques (7) to identify the musicbeing played by the user or member via the third party application (2),and then delivers (as at 9) the media content (11) to the other users ormembers (10) of the user or member group or selected social circle (100)preferably via a group-collaborative curating service as at (8).

Referencing FIG. 2, the reader will there consider a so-called “In-App”rebroadcasting system or application according to the present invention.This method or variant effects the desired functionality does notrequire the preferred file-matching techniques as at (7) simply becausethe member user created his or her playlist or selected a song fromwithin the VERTIGO branded application (4) cooperable with the memberdevice (1). The VERTIGO branded application (4) reports as at (6) to theVERTIGO branded curating service (8) the content (11) to which the useror member is attending, which content (11) is then re-broadcast (11) tothe users or members (10) of the selected social circle or member group(100).

Referencing FIG. 3, the reader will there consider an HTTP-redirect typesocial rebroadcasting system according to the present invention. Thisvariant of the social rebroadcasting system occurs when the user ormember is using the VERTIGO branded application (4) but is attending tomusic or media (12) provided as at (6) by a third party service provider(13). The user or member make the playback request within the VERTIGObranded application (4), but is directed at the 3rd party service (13).The VERTIGO branded application (4) simultaneously delivers as at (15)to the VERTIGO branded curating service (8) the resource reference tothe audio or media that is being requested by the user from the 3rdparty service (13). The VERTIGO branded curating service (8) thenrequests as at (14) that resource from the 3rd party service provider(13) and delivers as at (9) the media content (11) to the users (10)within the selected social circle (100).

Referencing FIG. 4, the reader will there consider third party typesocial rebroadcasting service or system according to the presentinvention. This variant centers on a third party service provider as at(18). The third party service provider (18) allows applications and/orservices as at (19) to register as at (21) with the service provider(18). The song or media content that is being played by a user ormember, and the user's current position within that media content orsong (as updated intermittently via applications/services (19)), so thatanother unrelated applications/services (20) can retrieve the mediacontent being consumed by the user to rebroadcast as at (22) to the enduser of applications/services (20).

Another possible variant of the social rebroadcasting system accordingto the present invention not specifically illustrated or depictedcontemplates the recordation and rebroadcast of the user's audio stream.This approach is less preferable insofar as it is anticipated thatmobile bandwidth will suffer, and certain privacy concerns may alsoarise, particularly if the application cannot discern between mediacontent (e.g. music) and simple audio output from a phone call, forexample.

The group streaming system, application or feature according to thepresent invention is primarily focused upon the optimization of acollaboratively curated content or media stream for members (10) of auser group as at (100). Referencing FIG. 5, the reader will thereconsider that members or group stream participants as at (10) of theuser group input as at (17) user preferences into a collaborative groupstreaming curation compiling service, system, or application as at (16).

Referencing FIG. 6, the reader will there consider a generalizedflowchart depicting the processes or methodology of group streamingaccording to the present invention. The group streaming method accordingto the present invention is believed to basically function to enablemembers or participants as at (10) of a user group as at (100) tocollaboratively curate content delivery. The methodology may be said topreferably comprise the steps of: initiating a collaboratively curatedgroup stream by inviting potential members of a user group to join theuser group as generally depicted at (32).

Invitations to the collaboratively curated group stream may then beindividually and respectively accepted by the potential members of theuser group who, upon acceptance, thereby join the group stream andbecome members of the user group (100) as generally depicted at (33).Each user or member (10) then individually and respectively inputs (17)his or her user preferences into a group curation system or application(16) as generally depicted at (34).

The group curation system or application (16) compiles the individuallyand respectively input user preferences into what may be referred to asa group curation profile thus custom-tailoring media content to theoverall tastes or preferences of the user group (100) as generallydepicted at (35). The media content is then delivered to the members(10) of the user group (100) as initially defined by the group curationprofile.

The group streaming methodology according to the subject inventionfurther contemplates functionality that operates to continually orperiodically update the group curation profile by soliciting andaccepting refinements to the group curation profile. In other words, byindividually and respectively updating the group curation profile withperiodic additional input by individual users as they navigate throughsequential content deliveries, the group curation profile and deliveryof media content is thereby optimized as generally depicted at (36). Inother words, by using multiple initial and ongoing inputs as at (17)such as “liking” or up-voting, down-voting, etc. . . . ), the individualmembers or participants may thus refine the group curation profile.

As earlier indicated, both the social rebroadcasting system orapplication and the group streaming system or applications according tothe present invention preferably further comprise some formal means forenabling inter-member communications based at least upon the deliveredor shared content. Accordingly, it is contemplated that a live audiooverlay function may be preferably incorporated in which members (10) ofthe user group (100) can converse (as in a conference call) with theiraudio streams overlaid a curated (algorithmically or manually curated)audio or media stream.

In keeping with this notion, certain In-Stream social interaction isfurther contemplated as part of the audio overlay functionality. Inother words, it is contemplated that both the social rebroadcasting andgroup streaming systems or applications according to the presentinvention may enable the user or member (10) to provide commentary onthe media content in-stream or mid-stream, so to speak. Thus, in thisregard, commentary may by tied or directed to a specific point (e.g. alyric) within the song or line from a movie. It is contemplated that inaddition to audio overlay, the commentary can be presented in text orvideo formats. Preferably, the systems can provide limits on the lengthand/or placement of the comments made to follow certain protocols withregard to use/playback of the content.

The present invention further contemplates a social mode function,whereby the systems are activated by “social mode” physical orientationof the member device (101). When the user or member (10) desires tointeract socially with any song or media file that is playing either bycommenting, or rebroadcasting, the user or member may reorient thedevice into a horizontal orientation as generally depicted at (37) inFIG. 13 from a vertical orientation as generally depicted at (38) inFIG. 11.

By reorienting the member device (101) into the horizontal orientation(37), the “social mode” is activated and the device (101) interacts withthe audio wave form and locates other members (1) who have commented onor are listening to the song or otherwise attending to the content withwhich the user or member (10) is currently interacting. This allows theuser to interact with the media immediately no matter where the user waspreviously located within the application. All of these features areaccessible when in the social mode, which mode is preferably activatedby gyroscopic means cooperably associated with the device (11), whichmeans operate to detect a horizontal device position (37), and switchthe application into social mode.

The present invention further contemplates extending and/or embracingcertain concepts set forth and more fully articulated in InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/US2015/019099 directed to a geographicallydetermined or fenced broadcast stream or group stream. As an extensionof the '099 application, which application focused, in part, onstreaming into geo fenced locations, the present invention contemplatesan ability to stream broadcasts (live or programmed) into specificgeo-fenced locations, creating exclusive destinations where a live eventor broadcast or curated radio broadcast is streamed.

In order for a user or member (10) to be involved in social activitysuch as sharing, commenting, liking, etc. while simultaneouslycommunicating via a mobile device (101) and operating a vehicle (e.g.automobile, motorcycle, etc.), the user or member (10) must first beable to steer the vehicle uninterrupted and safely. Thus, in mostinstances, use of the mobile or member device (101) must be hands-free.

To use a mobile or member device (101 while engaging in social mediaactivity (e.g. sharing music or media, liking, commenting, inviting,etc.) via the member device (101), the user or member (10) requires ameans to activate a social action (such as commenting, liking, sharing,etc.) by simply motioning with a user's fingers or hand or via some formof voice-activation so that the user's hands are not interrupted,impaired, or distracted from the primary activity of driving/steering.

In this regard, the social rebroadcasting and group streaming systemsaccording to the present invention preferably comprise certain voice,hand or finger-operable means for activating or initiating the systemsthat are made cooperable with a vehicular setting for enabling the userto quickly and safely initiate the social rebroadcasting and groupstreaming system(s) or VERTIGO branded application (4) linked to themember device (101), for example, via Bluetooth technology or similarother wireless linkage.

The reader is thus directed to FIGS. 7-10, which figures generallydepict a steering wheel as at (40) with variously outfitted withwheel-mounted buttons for initiating (a) the VERTIGO branded application(4) via a VERTIGO branded button (39) as generally depicted in FIGS.7-10; or (b) various features of the VERTIGO branded application (4)such as sharing as at button (41); inviting as at button (42); andcommenting/liking as at button (43) as generally depicted in FIGS. 7 and9.

Accordingly, the social rebroadcasting and group streaming systemsaccording to the present invention are believed preferably made operableor activated when based in vehicular settings via (VERTIGO branded)Social Media Engagement Button(s) as at (39), (41), (42), and (43)located on a vehicles (automobile, motorcycle, etc.) steering mechanism(e.g. a steering wheel as at (40), steering axle, etc.). The SocialMedia Engagement Button(s) as exemplified at buttons (39), (41), (42),and (43) are contemplated preferably placed upon the steering mechanismas exemplified by wheel (4) such that the buttons (39), (41), (42), and(43) are within reach of a user's thumb(s) as at (102) or any finger asat (103). Once a select button is engaged, all social activity such ascommenting, sharing, liking, etc. may be further preferably activated byvoice-activated commands or based on the number of clicks (e.g.single-click, double-click, etc.), preprogrammed to indicate a commandfor a social activity/action (e.g. comment, share, like, etc.).

It is noted that most modern vehicles outfitted with automatictransmissions allow one (left) foot to be “free” during vehicularoperation. This means that left foot of the driver could be used forother, nonessential activities like clicking, tapping, music beats etc.This invention further envisions a built-in device or separate(detachable) remote/wireless device or wired device in communicationwith or otherwise connected to a mobile communication device as atdevice (101) or built-in communication means, designed for operabilityvia a driver's free (e.g. left) foot as means of social media/othercommunications. This particular concept has not been specificallyillustrated as such, but is believed inherently embraced by theexemplary steering wheel mechanism outfitted with hand-operable buttonsas described hereinabove and supported by FIGS. 7-10.

Further, the foot-operable means for activating the various features ofthe present invention may be provided in the form of a built-in push/tapbutton located under the left foot of the driver conveniently located onthe floor of the vehicle, which button may be either remotely/wirelesslycommunicated with a member device (101) or hard wired to the memberdevice (101) or built-in communication means within the vehicle. Thefoot-operable button may preferably comprise adjustment means in orderto place the button in a more proper location or position to fit theparticular operator.

The foot-operable button may preferably be utilized to enablefunctionality via a number of clicks/taps to communicate differentcommands such as sharing for a one-click operation or liking for atwo-click operation. Just as the wheel mechanism (40) may comprise aseries of buttons for enabling hand-actuable functionality; it isfurther contemplated that the foot-actuable means may further comprise aseparate, removable push/tap button device positionable on the floor ofthe vehicle or other place to act as means of social media/other meansof communication. This separate, removable push/tap button device may beremotely/wirelessly connected to a mobile communication device such asdevice (101) or alternatively connected to built-in communication means.The separate/removable push/tap button device may also preferably use anumber of clicks/taps to communicate different commands such as sharingfunctionality via one click, and liking functionality via two like-twoclicks.

The foregoing systemic aspects according to the present invention,including both (a) the social rebroadcasting aspects for enablingindividual members of a user group to rebroadcast select content toother members of the user group irrespective of source, and (b) thegroup streaming system for enabling members of a user group tocollaboratively curate content delivery are both subject to certainsmart routing parameters that function to provide real-timesynchronization of media content between at least two parties or membersof the user group, which media content may be sourced from at least twoseparate copyright access points or environments.

The so-called smart routing techniques contemplated by the presentinvention are more fully articulated in the specifications associatedwith International Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/069067 ('067application), which specifications of which are hereby incorporated byreference thereto. Summarizing so-called smart routing in connectionwith the systems of the present invention, if a user or member (10) isprompted from either a rebroadcast stream or a group stream with arequest to play a song or other media file that the user or member (10)already owns or to which the user or member has legal access, theVERTIGO branded server (5) and application (4) serves the song or mediafile that the user either owns, or has access to as a result of asubscriptions service instead of streaming the content from a thirdparty service provider.

The '067 application provides for an Indirect source of copyrightedmedia to be routed and consumed via a second Direct request source ofthe same copyrighted media. The effect of such routing is to create asynthetic broadcast where the originating source of the media (“IndirectSource”) is not actually sent through to the media consumer but ratherthe consumer's own separate legally compliant “direct” access point andsource of the very same copyrighted material is delivered instead.

An “Indirect Source” may be defined as any source where the consumer isnot “directly” selecting the specific media to be consumed but thatmedia selection is coming from a second “Indirect Source” whether thatsource is a computer-curated stream such as a digital “radio” provideror an individual live curator. Such routing or syncing of an Indirectsource to a separate Direct compliant source would uniquely enable alegal and compliant collaborative listening or viewing experience ofmedia between two or more people (i.e. a group) when and where theaccess to the copyrighted material is derived from two plus separatecompliant media sources of that material. The present invention buildsupon these concepts by providing smart routing synchronization systemsand methods for socializing a synthetic rebroadcast and group stream(emphasis added).

The identification of the song or media file is preferably achieved byway of certain file-matching techniques utilizing waveform metrics ofthe content to quickly and accurately identify the media content, and amatch inquiry is made via the VERTIGO branded application (4) todetermine whether the media content can be delivered from a sourcedirectly associated with the member (10) and if so from which sourceassociated with the member, and if not, whether any alternative moreefficient sources may be available to the particular member.

The smart routing and compliance features of the present invention thuseliminate the unnecessary delivery of content already more efficientlyand previously acquired or accessed by the user or member, andsimultaneously protect the copyright holders from misappropriation oftheir intellectual property. Whereas previous disclosures by Applicanthave focused on the synchronization of media files in Direct requestcloud sources, the present invention is directed to real-timesynchronization of streaming media content from at least one Indirectsource to a Direct source. The present invention thus attempts tofurther socialize the smart routing and synchronization environmentgoverned by certain compliance or reporting means.

The ability to source an Indirect content stream with an alternativeDirect source (i.e. a personal and privately owned legal source that isNOT delivered from a peer-to-peer or computer populated network) with agoverning compliance application is believed foundational to the presentinvention. Referencing FIG. 11, the reader will there consider aschematic in support of these concepts. A content stream provider suchas a third party cloud-based digital radio provider or source or anothersimilar party that shares or streams content is generally depicted andreferenced at (50) with a governing VERTIGO branded server/applicationgenerically referenced at (51). That content stream provider (50) isrequested by a consumer as at member device (101) to consume mediacontent from that content stream provider (50).

It will thus be understood that the content stream provider (50) and theconsumer at member device (101) each have different legally owned orcopyright access points as at access point (103) versus access point(104) to the content that is to be streamed or shared. For example, theconsumer as at member device (101) may have a legal right to a directrequest for this content from the consumer's own source housed or storedupon the member device (101) at access point (104) while the contentstream provider (5) may stream content from a different source as ataccess point (103).

Direct access as at arrows (105) to the content from the consumer's ownlibrary is thus believed more efficient and cost conscious thanobtaining access as at arrows (106) to the content from the contentstream provider (50). If the content is thus sourced from a consumer'sown library or access point (104), the content delivery at arrows (105)will or should have an impact on the reporting otherwise required by thecontent stream provider (50). The compliance appliance (52) madeoperable via the VERTIGO branded server/application (51) according tothe present invention accurately tracks and reports proper revenuegeneration for copyright holders.

It will thus be understood given the data origin-agnostic character ofthe systemic aspects of the present invention, a data-routing governancesystem or is believed critical to protect copyright holders whilesimultaneously increasing efficiency of content delivery. Thedata-routing governance system according to the present inventionpreferably comprises, in combination, a data-routing complianceappliance or engine (52) and the described smart routing system.Accordingly, the data-routing compliance appliance (52) is incommunication with the smart routing system, which smart routing systemmakes most efficient use of a plurality of data sources, which sourcescomprise or store data files or media content for streaming the users ormembers (10) of the user group (100).

The content delivery network of the smart routing system delivers selectdata files or media content to an end user or member (10) from anoptimal data source location, which optimal data source location isselected from a group consisting of data sources such as the contentstream provider (50); a secondary cloud based locker as at (53) such asiTunes Match; a second third party cloud-based content provider as at(54) such as SPOTIFY; and the local storage or access point (104). Thecompliance appliance or engine (52) according to the present inventionfurther provides (a) industry rights management (b) compliancemonitoring and/or (c) compliance reporting of data file transmissions.

Essentially, the present invention may be said to provide functionalityfor preferably (as at arrow (107) (1) delivering an indirect requeststream from a local server (e.g. digital radio as exemplified byPANDORA® RADIO); (2) delivering an indirect request stream from a seconddirect request source (e.g. ITUNES MATCH or SPOTIFY or cloud locker likeDROPBOX or any media in the cloud); (3) delivering a direct requeststream from a second direct request source based upon (a) priceefficiency or (b) sound quality of source; or less preferably oralternatively as at arrows (108) (4) delivering an indirect requeststream from a peer-connected server based on a second direct requestsource's right to play or stream; (5) delivering an indirect requeststream from a peer-connected server as at (110); and (6) delivering adirect request stream from a peer-connected source based upon a seconddirect request source's right to play or stream.

The social rebroadcasting and group streaming systems or applicationsaccording to the present invention are believed further preferablycooperable with technology providing geographic media distribution zonesthat work together with a media synchronization system, allowing forpurchases in a geographic region to be synchronized to users' devicesand libraries without the requirement for carrying out physical media. Acontemplated use or application of this aspect of the present inventionis the creation of geographic regions with a retailer's physicalbuilding (i.e. the distribution zone is defined as the walls of thestore).

For example, the system allows users or members (10) to have specialstreaming and sampling access while they are within the store. A user ormember (10) of a group (100) as defined by unassociated shoppers locatedwith the confines of a store may thus be allowed to stream audio forfree and fully as long as they are with the limits of the store, or reada book without constraints as long as they are with the limits of thestore, or watch a movie without constraints as long as they are with astores limits.

As soon as the user or member (10) (or more accurately, the mobile ormember device 101)) leaves the store the access is restricted and theuser or member (10) can only listen to content previously purchased orto which they have access via the Internet (i.e. the special access tomedia is only be given with the limits of the store). If a user ormember is within a store and hears or reads something that they want topurchase, they can immediately make a purchase within the application,and their purchase is synchronized to all of their devices via VERTIGObranded synchronization services described elsewhere. The retailerreceives payment for the media that was sold either directly or viatransfer from those patented systems. It is noteworthy that the systemis not bound strictly to audio, but any form of media (video, audio,books, etc. . . . ).

Referencing FIGS. 14-16, the reader will consider that the systempreferably comprises a remote synchronization service (130) forsynchronizing as at (133) and (137) (FIGS. 14 and 9) media and medialibraries to multiple member devices as at (101). It preferablycomprises a digital geographic distribution zone (134) with activationzones (208) within the zone (134) and deactivation zones (209) outsidethe zone (134) as generally depicted in FIG. 16.

The geographic distribution zone (34) may be preferably exemplified by(a) the reach of a wi-fi network, (b) GPS coordinates, (c) geographicalareas defined by geographical boundaries such as streets, roads, cityboundaries, etc., and/or (d) through the use of nodes transmitting radiofrequencies defining a device's location (and determining whether it isbeyond the physical boundaries or building construction of a retailoutlet location or storefront) via triangulation (for example Bluetoothlow energy can be used for this purpose).

Geographic limits can also be determined by using nodes emitting radiofrequencies around the perimeter of the building, to determine whether adevice is within the store limits or beyond them. The reader canreference FIG. 15 for additional details. In other words, a geographicdistribution zone (134) may be preferably defined by some form of radiofrequency-emitting node, either by limiting access to the reach of thenodes' radio waves (as in wi-fi) or by using some form of radiofrequency to identify the position of a mobile device (within abuilding, or outside of it). Conceivably, a geographical area may bedefined by cooperatively associating a plurality of nodes or locationsinterconnected in a dot-to-dot like manner for defining the boundariesof the geographical area.

The geographic distribution zone (134) is essentially a zone ofprivileged access to the media library of the merchant identified by thegeographic distribution zone (134) and those users or members (10)within the zone (134) may be properly regarded as the user group (100).The system also preferably comprises mobile devices (101) with a clientapplication, which synchronizes (137) with remote synchronizationservices (130) and is used to determine the limits of the geographicdistribution zone (134), and further give or deny access to media basedon the location of the device.

The system also interacts with transaction services (136), registeringpurchases and clearing transactions made on mobile devices (101) withinthe geographic distribution zone 34 and sending either purchased mediaor record of purchase to the remote synchronization services (130),which then distributes media to all linked devices (101). Thus, in thereferenced FIGS. 14 and 15, a device as at 101 is given access as at(138) to the media of the zone (134) when it is at position (207) withinzone (134). If the user decides to purchase media while in thegeographic distribution zone (134), the request (139) is sent to thetransaction/purchasing services (136). The transaction is then creditedto the merchant who is identified with the geographic distribution zone(134) and the media or a record of purchase is sent to as at (140) thesynchronization services (130) and then pushed to all linked devices(101).

A variant of the system would actually have the transaction (139)directed at the purchasing services of the merchant identified with thegeographic distribution zone (134), and the merchants' services (136)then either notify the synchronization services (130) of the user'spurchase, or transfer purchased media to the user's account within thesynchronization service (130). The synchronization services (130) thentransfer media to all linked devices. FIG. 15 is a diagram of the fullsystem along with other sources (141) and (142), whereby sources (141)and (142) are possible retailers of either a brick and mortar type ordigital type.

While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the sameshould not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention butrather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. Forexample, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the presentinventive system essentially provides a social broadcasting system forenabling members of a user group to rebroadcast select content to othermembers of the user group, and a group streaming system for enablingmembers of a user group to collaboratively curate content delivery.

The social broadcasting or rebroadcasting system according to thepresent invention is believed to essentially comprise, in combinationcertain synchronization means for real-time synchronization of mediacontent among members of the user group and certain content rebroadcastmeans. The synchronization and content rebroadcast means are cooperableamong a group of member clients as at (101) each of which are incommunication with at least two content sources having differingparameters for judging efficiency of content delivery.

The synchronization means may be said to comprise certain means foridentifying select content (as may be exemplified by file-matching meanscharacterized by waveform metric analysis) and certain deliverydirection means for directing delivery of the select content from aselect optimal content resource location for each member client. Inother words, the select optimal data resource locations for each memberclient are selected from the at least two content sources affiliated orcommunication with each member client (101).

The content rebroadcast means as exemplified by the VERTIGO brandedserver/application (51) prompts the delivery direction means to deliverthe select content to members of the user group from a contentorigination member of the user group (i.e. the member (10) who initiatesor activates the group share (e.g. by pressing a “share” button). Themembers of the user group are thereby able to (simultaneously) accessthe select content originating from the content origination member andas received from the select optimal content resource locations withinthe user group for the purpose of providing a content-based platform forsocial interaction among the members (10) of the group (100).

The at least two content sources may preferably comprise at least oneindirect content source and a direct content source such that whenquerying which of the sources is most efficient, the system will governthat the most efficient source of the content to be delivered. Notingthat the at least two content sources define at least two legal accesspoints, the system further contemplates certain data-routing governancemeans in communication with the at least two separate legal accesspoints for providing (a) industry rights management (b) compliancemonitoring and/or (c) compliance reporting of content delivery.

Given the social nature of the systems, a dialogue platform is furthercontemplated for enabling members of the user group to engage inreal-time dialogue regarding at least the select content. The dialogueplatform may comprise any number of means for enabling communications,but is believed preferably practiced by way of certain means foroverlaying live audio for enabling members of the user group to orallyconverse in real-time regarding at least the select content.

The systems further contemplate certain system activation means foractivating said systems. The system activation means may be exemplifiedalternatively as being operable via member device re-orientation or madeoperable via select vehicular button-based means in communication withmember communications means as may be exemplified by a member device(101). When defined by vehicular button-based means, said means may bepreferably selected from the group consisting of hand-operable means andfoot-operable means.

The social broadcasting system may further embrace the group streamingsystem at least insofar as it enables members of the user group tocollaboratively curate content delivery. In this regard, the groupstreaming system contemplates certain means for collecting individualuser content preferences, and certain further means for compiling agroup curation profile based on the individual user content preferences.Certain additional means are contemplated for individually modifying thegroup curation profile after initial profile compilation or formationfor optimizing content delivery to the user group.

The social broadcasting system need not be directed to membersacquainted with one another but instead may be directed toward memberslocated with a geographic distribution zone which zone is targeted for abroadcast stream. In this regard, it is contemplated that the socialbroadcasting system may comprise or utilize radio frequency emittingnodes to identify geographic boundaries of a targeted geographicdistribution zone in order to create a streaming/digital marketplacewithin the geographic distribution zone. The geographic distributionzone may be preferably defined by a geographic location in order tocreate a streaming/digital virtual storefront within said geographiclocation.

Certain social broadcasting and group streaming methodologies arefurther contemplated as being supported by the foregoing specificationsin tandem with the drawings submitted in support of thesespecifications. In this regard, a social broadcasting method accordingto the present invention enables members of a user group to broadcastselect content to other members of the user group, and may be said tocomprise the steps of receiving initially sourced content from aninitial content provider at the group origination member device;querying whether the received initially sourced content is mostefficiently sourced from the content provider; and sourcing mostefficiently sourced content to the group origination member device.

The sourced content may then be shared with group member devices incommunication with the group origination member device, which receivedsourced content is queried as to whether it is most efficiently sourcedat each of the group member devices Most efficiently sourced content maythen be further sourced to the group member devices. The steps ofquerying may preferably comprise the step(s) of file-matchingsynchronization, which file-matching synchronization steps preferablycomprise the steps of analyzing waveform metrics for rendering a filematch.

The group streaming method according to the present invention basicallyfunctions to enable members of a user group to collaboratively curatecontent delivery, and may be said to comprise the steps of: initiating agroup stream by inviting potential members of a user group to join theuser group; accepting invitations to the group stream by the potentialmembers who thereby join the group stream and become members of the usergroup; individually and respectively inputting user preferences into agroup curation compilation system; compiling the individually andrespectively input user preferences into a group curation profile; anddelivering content defined by the group curation profile to the membersof the user group.

The members of the user group may refine the group curation profile byindividually and respectively updating the group curation profile withperiodic additional input thereby optimizing the group curation profileand delivery of content and further engage in dialogue regarding atleast the delivered content, which dialogue is anticipated to have amarked effect on the group curation collaboration.

We claim:
 1. A group streaming system for enabling individual members ofa user group to collaboratively curate content delivery, the groupstreaming system comprising (a) means for collecting individual usercontent preferences; (b) means for compiling a group content preferenceprofile based on the individual user content preferences; and (c)synchronization means for real-time synchronization of media contentamong the individual members of the user group, the synchronizationmeans being cooperable among a group of member clients each of which arein communication with at least two content sources, the at least twocontent sources each being characterized by a separate legal accesspoint thus defining at least two legal access points for each memberclient, said synchronization means comprising means for identifyingselect content and delivery direction means for directing delivery ofthe select content from a select optimal content resource location foreach member client, each select optimal data resource location beingselected from the at least two content sources and being based onuser-defined parameters, the select content being deliverable to membersof the user group from a content origination member of the user group,the members of the user group thereby being able to simultaneouslyaccess the select content originating from the content originationmember and received from the select optimal content resource locationswithin the user group for the purpose of providing a content-basedplatform for social interaction.
 2. The group streaming system of claim1 comprising means for individually modifying the group contentpreference for optimizing content delivery to the user group.
 3. Thegroup streaming system of claim 1 comprising a dialogue platform, thedialogue platform enabling members of the user group to engage inreal-time dialogue regarding at least the select content.
 4. The groupstreaming system of claim 3 wherein the dialogue platform comprisesmeans for overlaying live audio for enabling members of the user groupto orally converse in real-time regarding at least the select content.5. The group streaming system of claim 1 comprising system activationmeans for activating said system.
 6. The group streaming system of claim5 wherein the system activation means are operable via devicere-orientation.
 7. The group streaming system of claim 6 wherein thesystem activation means are operable via select vehicular button-basedmeans.
 8. The group streaming system of claim 7 wherein the selectvehicular button-based means are selected from the group consisting ofhand-operable means and foot-operable means.
 9. The group streamingsystem of claim 1 comprising data-routing governance means incommunication with the at least two separate legal access points forproviding (a) industry rights management (b) compliance monitoringand/or (c) compliance reporting of content delivery as delivered fromeither of a primary legal access point or at least one secondary legalaccess point.
 10. A group streaming method for enabling members of auser group to collaboratively curate content delivery, the methodcomprising the steps of: initiating a group stream by inviting potentialmembers of a user group to join the user group; accepting invitations tothe group stream by the potential members who thereby join the groupstream and become members of the user group; individually andrespectively inputting user preferences into a group curationcompilation system; compiling the individually and respectively inputuser preferences into a group curation profile; suggesting sharablecontent defined by the group curation profile to the members of the usergroup; and sourcing the suggested sharable content to the members of theuser group, each member of the user group being in communication with atleast two content sources, each content source being characterized by aseparate legal access point, said source selection being based onuser-defined parameters.
 11. The group streaming method of claim 10wherein the members of the user group refine the group curation profileby individually and respectively updating the group curation profilewith periodic additional input thereby optimizing the group curationprofile and delivery of content.
 12. The group streaming method of claim10 comprising the step of dialoguing among members of the user groupregarding at least the delivered content.